Wall Steet ended a volatile week with a big advance today as oil prices tumbled below US$50 (€38.84) per barrel and jittery investors took solace in a pair of economic reports that eased their inflation concerns.

US investors found some reassurance in weak job growth figures today, and sent stocks sharply higher on the assumption that the numbers will prompt Federal Reserve to be less aggressive in raising interest rates.

Oil prices reached a new high in New York and sent US stocks lower today, pushing the Dow Jones industrials back below 10,000.

Wall Street retreated again today, extending its losses into a fourth session despite better-than-expected earnings from The Home Depot and a brokerage firm upgrade for General Electric Co.